JP6111500B2 - Connector for electrical connection - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector for electrical connection.

  Conventionally, an electrical connection connector has been used to electrically connect a device having a storage battery and a device for supplying charging power to the device. As a conventional example of such a connector for electrical connection, a charging connector connected to a charging inlet of an electric vehicle is illustrated (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a charger that charges a storage battery (vehicle battery) of an electric vehicle via a charging connector and a charging cable. This charger has a function of detecting a ground fault and a ground fault, and is configured to stop power feeding to the electric vehicle when a ground fault or a ground fault is detected.

JP 2010-239827 A

  In recent years, electric power is supplied from a storage battery of an electric vehicle to a load outside the vehicle (for example, a lighting fixture in a house). In this case, the electric vehicle and the charge / discharge control device are electrically connected via the connector and the cable. The charge / discharge control device controls AC charging and DC power conversion bidirectionally to control charging of the storage battery and power feeding from the storage battery to a load outside the vehicle.

  In the conventional example described in Patent Document 1, since only a storage battery of an electric vehicle is charged from a charger, it is sufficient to stop power supply in the charger when an abnormality such as a ground fault or a leakage occurs.

  However, when discharging from the storage battery of an electric vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, the safety of the connector and cable is ensured because the connector is connected to the storage battery even if the charge / discharge control device shuts off the power supply path from the storage battery. There was a problem that it was difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve safety when an abnormality occurs.

  The connector for electrical connection of the present invention includes a connection part that is detachably connected to a receiving side connector of a device equipped with a storage battery, and a power supply line that is electrically connected to the receiving side connector via the connection part. A cable composed of a plurality of electric wires, connected to a device for supplying power to the device or receiving power from the device, an open / close unit that opens and closes an electric circuit connecting the connection unit and the power line, and An abnormality detection unit for detecting an abnormality of the connection unit, a transmission unit for transmitting a detection result of the abnormality detection unit to the device via the electric wire, the connection unit provided at a tip of the cable, the opening / closing unit, The anomaly detection unit and a housing for housing the transmission unit are provided, and the opening / closing unit is configured to open and close the electric circuit according to a control signal transmitted through the electric wire.

  In this electrical connection connector, the abnormality detection unit is configured to individually detect a plurality of types of abnormality, and the transmission unit outputs at least any two types of detection results among the plurality of types of abnormality. It is preferable that the devices are collectively transmitted to the device that performs at least one of power supply to the device and power reception from the device.

  In this electrical connection connector, the abnormality detection unit and the opening / closing unit operate with electric power supplied from the device that performs at least one of power supply to the device or power reception from the device via the electric wire. It is preferable to be configured to do so.

  In this electrical connection connector, it is preferable that the abnormality detection unit and the opening / closing unit are configured to operate with electric power supplied via the power supply line.

  In the electrical connection connector of the present invention, the open / close portion is configured to open and close the electric circuit by a control signal transmitted through the electric wire, so that an abnormality occurs when the electric circuit is interrupted at a position close to the storage battery. There is an effect that safety at the time can be improved.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a charge / discharge system including an embodiment of an electrical connection connector according to the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view same as the above. It is a block diagram of the lock mechanism part and connector lock detection part in the same as the above.

  Hereinafter, the connector of the present invention is connected to an inlet (receiving connector) of an electric vehicle equipped with a storage battery (vehicle battery) so as to be freely inserted and removed, and to charge the vehicle battery and supply power from the vehicle battery to a load outside the vehicle. An embodiment to which the technical idea is applied will be described. However, a device equipped with a storage battery is not limited to an electric vehicle, and may be a stationary power storage device that stores power generated by a solar cell or a fuel cell, for example.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a charge / discharge system including an electrical connection connector (hereinafter abbreviated as a connector) 1 of the present embodiment. The charging / discharging system includes an electric vehicle 100, a charging / discharging control device 200, and a connector 1.

  The charge / discharge control device 200 converts a DC voltage / current supplied from a commercial power system into a DC voltage / current, a DC voltage / current supplied from an in-vehicle battery (not shown). An inverter (not shown) for converting to AC voltage / current is provided. The charge / discharge control device 200 has a function of adjusting the output of the converter or inverter based on an instruction from the electric vehicle 100, a function of detecting an abnormality such as a ground fault or electric leakage, and a function of stopping the converter and the inverter. ing.

  The electric vehicle 100 is equipped with an auxiliary battery (not shown) for an electronic control unit (not shown) that communicates with the charge / discharge control device 200 in addition to the on-board battery for propulsion power. Yes. Here, an inlet (not shown) provided in the electric vehicle 100 has an interface defined in a standard specification (TS D 0007: basic function of rapid charging for electric vehicles) issued by the Japanese Standards Association. doing. That is, this inlet includes a pair of power electrodes connected to the anode and cathode of the in-vehicle battery, a pair of communication electrodes for CAN (Controller area network) communication, and four signal electrodes for analog signal transmission. And a ground electrode for grounding. Note that a vehicle contactor 101 is inserted between the pair of power supply electrodes and the anode and cathode of the in-vehicle battery. These vehicle contactors 101 are controlled to be opened and closed by an electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100.

  The connector 1 includes a connector main body (housing) 2 and a cable 9 as shown in FIG. The cable 9 includes a pair of power supply lines 90 and 91, a pair of CAN communication lines (not shown), a total of six transmission lines 92, 93 and 94 (partially omitted), and a ground line 95 11. It consists of a core electrical cable (see Figure 1). The cable 9 is provided with the connector main body 2 at one end side and is connected to the charge / discharge control device 200 at the other end side.

  The connector main body 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape as a whole, a connecting portion 20 is provided at the front end, and a handle 42 is provided at the rear end. The connection portion 20 has four round holes 200 and 201 opened on the front surface, and the large-diameter round hole 200 accommodates a power contact (not shown) connected to the main circuit. On the other hand, the two small-diameter round holes 201 are divided into four compartments, and transmission and ground contacts (not shown) are accommodated in each compartment.

  On the rear end side of the connecting portion 20, a cylindrical tubular body 41 that is extrapolated to the connecting portion 20 is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The cylinder 41 is provided with an outer collar 411 at the front end, and is elastically biased forward by a spring (not shown) housed in the connector main body 2. When the connecting portion 20 is inserted into the inlet, the outer casing 411 is pushed to the front surface of the inlet, the cylinder 41 moves backward, and the engaging claws that are pushed by the cylinder 41 and retracted into the connector main body 2. Advances outside the connector body 2 and engages with an engagement groove (not shown) of the inlet. However, the shape and structure of the housing 41 are not limited to this embodiment. When the release button 43 provided on the connector body 2 is pressed, the engagement claw is retracted into the connector body 2 and the engagement with the engagement groove is released. Further, a switch (detection switch) that is turned off when the engaging claw is retracted into the connector main body 2 and turned on when the engaging claw is advanced out of the connector main body 2 in the connector main body 2. 24 is stored.

  Here, in order to prevent the engagement claw and the engagement groove from being disengaged by pressing the release button 43 during charging, the lock that locks the engagement claw so that it does not retract into the connector body 2. A mechanism portion 23 is provided in the connector main body 2. The lock mechanism unit 23 has a solenoid 230. Further, the detection switch 24 is turned on when the connecting portion 20 is normally inserted into the inlet. The solenoid 230 drives the plunger with a drive current supplied from the charge / discharge control device 200 via the transmission line 94 and the ground line 95 when the detection switch 24 is on and charge / discharge is possible in the diagnosis before charge / discharge. The movement of the engaging claw is regulated by (see FIGS. 1 and 3). That is, when the lock mechanism portion 21 is in the locked state, the engagement between the engagement claw and the engagement groove cannot be artificially released, and when the lock mechanism portion 21 is in the unlocked state, the release button 43 is pressed. Thus, the engagement between the engagement claw and the engagement groove can be artificially released.

  Further, in the connector body 2, there are a main contact 21, an auxiliary contact 22, an overcurrent trip device 25, a short trip device 26, a trip device 29 at the time of abnormality, a temperature detection element 30, a contact state detection unit 31, and a drive device. 32, a voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33, a power supply filter 34, and the like are accommodated.

  The main contact 21 is provided in the main circuit through which the charging current and discharging current of the in-vehicle battery flow. In the connector body 2, the mechanical contact 21 closes the main contact 21 when the connecting portion 20 is connected to the inlet, and opens the main contact 21 when the connecting portion 20 is not connected to the inlet. An opening / closing mechanism (not shown) is provided. However, such a mechanical opening / closing mechanism is well known in the technical field of circuit breakers and the like, and detailed illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

  The auxiliary contact 22 selectively switches the common contact 222 to the switching contacts 220 and 221 in conjunction with the main contact 21. The contact state detection unit 31 detects the state (open state and closed state) of the main contact 21 based on the switching state of the auxiliary contact 22, and outputs the detection result to the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33.

  The overcurrent trip device 25 is configured to trip (open) the main contact 21 by a mechanical switching mechanism when a predetermined overload current continues to flow through the main circuit for a predetermined time or longer. The short-circuit trip device 26 is configured to trip the main contact 21 by a mechanical switching mechanism when a short-circuit current flows in the main circuit. Further, the abnormal trip device 27 is configured to trip the main contact 21 by a mechanical switching mechanism when driven by the drive device 32. However, the overcurrent trip device 25, the short trip trip device 26, the trip device 27 at the time of abnormality, and the drive device 32 can all be realized by using a conventionally known technique in the technical field such as a circuit breaker. The illustration and description of the various configurations are omitted. In the present embodiment, the main contact 21, the mechanical switching mechanism, the abnormal trip device 27, and the drive device 32 constitute an opening / closing section.

  For example, the connector lock detection unit 28 compares the magnitude of the current (drive current) flowing through the solenoid 230 of the lock mechanism unit 21 with the magnitude of the reference current (the zener current of the zener diode 281) by the comparator 280 as shown in FIG. To do. When the lock mechanism unit 21 is in an unlocked state, or when an abnormality such as a disconnection occurs and a drive current does not flow (lock abnormality state), the output of the comparator 280 becomes a high level. On the other hand, when the lock mechanism unit 21 is in the locked state and the normal state, the output of the comparator 280 is at a low level. The detection result of the connector lock detection unit 28 (output of the comparator 280) is output to the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33.

  The abnormal temperature detection unit 29 detects the temperature of the connection part 20 with a temperature detection element (such as a thermistor) 30 provided in the vicinity of the connection part 20, and if the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined upper limit value, the abnormal temperature detection result is converted into a voltage. The signal is sent to the signal transmitter / receiver 33.

  The voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33 adjusts the line voltage between the transmission line 93 and the ground line 95 to thereby detect the detection results of the connector lock detection unit 28, the abnormal temperature detection unit 29, and the contact state detection unit 31. Transmit to 200. That is, in this embodiment, the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33 corresponds to a transmission unit. Further, the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33 receives a control signal transmitted as a voltage signal from the charge / discharge control device 200, controls the drive device 32 based on the control signal, and drives the trip device 27 at the time of abnormality. The main contact 21 is pulled off (opened).

  The power supply filter 34 filters a noise component from a voltage (for example, a DC voltage of 12 volts) supplied from the charge / discharge control device 200 via the transmission line 92, and each of the detection units 28, 29, 31 and the drive device 32, The voltage signal transmitting / receiving unit 33 is supplied. However, the power supply filter 34 is not essential and may be omitted.

  Next, the charging operation of the charge / discharge system will be described.

  After the connector 1 is connected to the inlet, a charging flow starts when a charging start operation is performed on the charging / discharging control device 200. The charging / discharging control device 200 supplies power to the connector 1 and the electric vehicle 100 by applying a specified voltage (12 V DC voltage; the same applies hereinafter) between the transmission line 92 and the ground line 95. The electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 recognizes the start of the charging flow when the specified voltage is applied, and transmits parameters such as the maximum voltage of the on-vehicle battery and the battery capacity to the charge / discharge control device 200 by CAN communication.

  Upon receiving the parameters, the charge / discharge control device 200 confirms that the electric vehicle is a chargeable electric vehicle, and then electronically controls the electric vehicle 100 by CAN communication using information such as its maximum output voltage and maximum output current. Transmit to the unit.

  The electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 confirms the compatibility with itself from the received information, and if there is no problem with the compatibility, transmits a signal permitting the start of charging to the charge / discharge control device 200 via the transmission line. To do.

  Upon receiving the permission signal, the charge / discharge control apparatus 200 applies a specified voltage between the transmission line 94 and the ground line 95 to cause a drive current to flow through the lock mechanism portion 21 of the connector 1 and to set the lock state. The electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 is notified via the transmission line that charging preparation is complete.

  When receiving the notification from the charge / discharge control device 200, the electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 closes the vehicle contactor 101 and starts charging the vehicle-mounted battery. When the capacity of the in-vehicle battery reaches the specified value, the electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 transmits a charge stop request by CAN communication.

  The charge / discharge control device 200 stops the current output when receiving the charge stop request. The electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 confirms that the current of the main circuit has dropped below a predetermined value, and then opens the vehicle contactor 101 and notifies the charge / discharge control device 200 of the end of charging via the transmission line. To do.

  When the charging / discharging control device 200 receives the notification of the end of charging, the charging / discharging control device 200 stops applying the specified voltage between the transmission line 92 and the ground line 95. Furthermore, the charging / discharging control device 200 stops applying the specified voltage between the transmission line 94 and the ground line 95 to place the lock mechanism unit 21 in an unlocked state, and ends the charging flow.

  Next, the discharge operation of the charge / discharge system will be described.

  After the connector 1 is connected to the inlet, the discharge flow starts when a discharge start operation is performed on the charge / discharge control apparatus 200. The charge / discharge control device 200 applies a specified voltage between the transmission line 92 and the ground line 95 to supply power to the connector 1 and the electric vehicle 100, and further transmits a discharge flow start request by CAN communication. When receiving the discharge flow start request, the electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 transmits parameters such as the maximum voltage of the on-vehicle battery and the battery capacity to the charge / discharge control device 200 by CAN communication.

  When the charge / discharge control apparatus 200 receives the parameter, it applies a specified voltage between the transmission line 94 and the ground line 95 to cause the drive current to flow through the lock mechanism 21 of the connector 1 to be in a locked state, and then prepares for discharge. Is notified to the electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 via the transmission line.

  When receiving the notification from the charge / discharge control device 200, the electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 closes the vehicle contactor 101 and starts discharging the vehicle-mounted battery. When the capacity of the in-vehicle battery reaches a predetermined lower limit value, the electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 transmits a discharge stop request by CAN communication.

  When the charge / discharge control device 200 receives the discharge stop request, the charge / discharge control device 200 stops the inverter and stops power supply to the load. The electronic control unit of the electric vehicle 100 confirms that the current of the main circuit has dropped to a predetermined value or less, then opens the vehicle contactor 101 and notifies the charge / discharge control device 200 of the end of the discharge via the transmission line. To do. When the charge / discharge control device 200 receives a notification of the end of discharge, the charge / discharge control device 200 stops applying the specified voltage between the transmission line 92 and the ground line 95. Furthermore, the charge / discharge control apparatus 200 stops applying the specified voltage between the transmission line 94 and the ground line 95 to place the lock mechanism unit 21 in an unlocked state, and ends the discharge flow.

  Here, in the above-described charging flow or discharging flow, when the temperature of the connection unit 20 rises abnormally and the detection temperature of the temperature detection element 30 exceeds the upper limit value, the abnormal temperature detection unit 29 displays the abnormal temperature detection result as a voltage. The signal is sent to the signal transmitter / receiver 33. When the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33 receives the abnormal temperature detection result from the abnormal temperature detection unit 29, the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33 transmits an abnormality notification signal to the charge / discharge control device 200. This abnormality notification signal is transmitted as a voltage signal by the voltage signal transmitting / receiving unit 33 adjusting the line voltage (signal voltage level) between the transmission line 93 and the ground line 95 to a predetermined value.

  In addition, in the charging flow or discharging flow, when the charging / discharging control device 200 applies a specified voltage between the transmission line 94 and the ground line 95, the connector lock detection unit 28 detects that the lock mechanism unit 21 is abnormal (non-locking State) is detected. The voltage signal transmitting / receiving unit 33 transmits an abnormality notification signal notifying the abnormality of the lock mechanism unit 21 to the charge / discharge control device 200 when the output of the connector lock detecting unit 28 that has detected the abnormality becomes high level. This abnormality notification signal is transmitted as a voltage signal by the voltage signal transmitting / receiving unit 33 adjusting the line voltage (signal voltage level) between the transmission line 93 and the ground line 95 to a predetermined value.

  On the other hand, when receiving the abnormality notification signal from the connector 1, the charge / discharge control device 200 transmits a control signal to the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33. When the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33 receives the control signal, the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33 controls the driving device 32 to drive the tripping device 27 in the event of an abnormality to disconnect (open) the main contact 21. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a malfunction due to an abnormal temperature rise of the connection part 20 or to prevent the connector 1 from being accidentally disconnected from the inlet during charging or discharging due to an abnormality of the lock mechanism part 21.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the switching unit (main contact 21, mechanical type) opens and closes the electric circuit (main circuit) by the control signal transmitted from the charge / discharge control device 200 via the electric wire (transmission line 93). An opening / closing mechanism, an abnormal trip device 27, and a drive device 32) are configured. Therefore, when discharging from the on-vehicle battery of the electric vehicle 100 to the outside of the vehicle, it is possible to improve safety when an abnormality occurs by cutting off the electric path in the connector 1 connected to the inlet of the electric vehicle 100. it can.

  By the way, the charging / discharging control device 200 takes a common measure of forcibly opening the main contact 21 with respect to the temperature abnormality of the connection part 20 and the abnormality of the lock mechanism part 21. Therefore, the voltage signal transmission / reception unit 33 of the connector 1 combines the abnormality notification signal for notifying the abnormality of the lock mechanism unit 21 and the abnormality notification signal for notifying the temperature abnormality of the connection unit 20 into one, that is, the signal voltage level. It is preferable to transmit with the same value.

  In the present embodiment, the abnormality detection unit (abnormal temperature detection unit 29, connector lock detection unit 28) and the opening / closing unit (drive device 32) are connected to the charge / discharge control device via the electric wires (transmission line 92 and ground line 95). It is comprised so that it may operate | move with the electric power supplied from 200. On the other hand, the abnormality detection unit and the opening / closing unit may be configured to operate with electric power supplied from the main circuit.

  In the latter configuration, the abnormality detection unit and the open / close unit are supplied with power from the on-vehicle battery or the power system, so that the main circuit can be shut off even when a high voltage is applied, and safety can be improved. On the other hand, in the former configuration, for example, the abnormality detection unit and the opening / closing unit can be operated even when power is not supplied from the vehicle-mounted battery in the discharge flow. Improvement can be achieved.

1 Electrical connector 2 Connector body (housing)
20 connections
21 Main contact (open / close)
23 Locking mechanism
27 Abnormal trip device (opening / closing part)
29 Abnormal temperature detector (abnormality detector)
32 Drive unit (opening / closing part)
33 Voltage signal transmitter / receiver (transmitter)

Claims (4)

A connection part that is detachably connected to a receiving-side connector of a device equipped with a storage battery, and a plurality of electric wires including a power line that is electrically connected to the receiving-side connector through the connection portion, to the device A cable connected to a device that performs at least one of power feeding or power receiving from the device, an open / close unit that opens and closes an electric path that connects the connection unit and the power line, and an abnormality detection that detects an abnormality of the connection unit A transmission unit that transmits the detection result of the abnormality detection unit to the device via the electric wire, the connection unit, the opening / closing unit, the abnormality detection unit, and the transmission unit provided at a tip of the cable. A housing for storing,
The electrical connection connector, wherein the opening / closing part is configured to open and close the electric circuit by a control signal transmitted via the electric wire.   The abnormality detection unit is configured to individually detect a plurality of types of abnormality, and the transmission unit collects at least any two or more types of detection results from the plurality of types of abnormality, and The electrical connection connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection connector is configured to transmit to the device that performs at least one of power supply to the device and power reception from the device.   The abnormality detection unit and the opening / closing unit are configured to operate with electric power supplied from the device that performs at least one of power supply to the device or power reception from the device via the electric wire. The connector for electrical connection according to claim 1 or 2.   The electrical connection connector according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detection unit and the opening / closing unit are configured to operate with electric power supplied via the power line.

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